Mo Salah accused by Wayne Rooney as Virgil van Dijk told how he must respond

View Image

Wayne Rooney has accused Mohamed Salah of not working hard enough for Liverpool during their three-game slump. And Rooney reckons Anfield's Egyptian King is letting his ego get in the way of helping Arne Slot's men get back to winning ways.

Liverpool have been replaced by Arsenal at the top of the table, after a pair of Premier League defeats in London - with the English champions also suffering a Champions League loss to Galatasaray in between. And England and Manchester United legend Rooney believes Salah has been found wanting, when his side need him the most.

Speaking on 'The Wayne Rooney Show', he said: "I think top players have a bit of an ego, and Mo Salah has been one of the best players in the league for a long time. I think the last week has shown something. When it's going well and you’re scoring goals and winning games, it's great and the team will put up with that.

"But over the last week, I would question his work ethic. We know he doesn’t always get back and defend as much, but in the Chelsea game his full-back was getting torn apart and he was watching.

"He's not getting back and helping and players like (Virgil) Van Dijk, and the leaders in the dressing room should be telling him, 'you need to help out.' That was a worry - and I think he has looked a bit lost over the last week."

Rooney reckons Slot was exposed tactically in the defeat at Chelsea - and that the international break has come at a good time for him.

He added: "The best managers see that and adjust. Slot maybe could have looked at that and thought 'Chelsea are killing us down the side'. Move him (Salah) inside and moved (Florian) Wirtz out there and still have that work ethic in there, and the brilliance of Salah to try and score goals.

"The break has come at a good time for Liverpool. It’s a good time to reflect for Arne Slot . He has made tactical changes - and it's a good time for him to sit back on it."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport YouTube & iPlayer, listen on BBC Sounds. Episodes drop every Friday & Monday morning.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.